The comparisons and serendipitous circumstances that link the two are almost too conspicuous to believe. But this ''D.J.'' isn't actively going out of his way to be the next ''AB.''

As he walked off the field after completing his first official on-field NFL practice session, Johnson was predictably asked to give his thoughts about the ubiquitous comparisons between him and the perennial All-Pro receiver now with Oakland.

''It's a good thing, because he's a great player,'' Johnson said Friday. ''Somebody I used to watch. I still look up to him. He's a great player.

''But I can only be myself only.''

What the Steelers have been saying they expect of Johnson would be more than good enough - even if it falls short of the level Brown attained as the Steelers' No. 1 receiver for most of the past decade.

Brown was shipped off to the Raiders for third- and fifth-round draft picks in March after he'd publicly clashed with everyone from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to coach Mike Tomlin to Steelers President Art Rooney II since sitting out the final game of the 2018 season. That leaves a gaping, 114-catch-per-year hole of production on the offense. Brown had 686 receptions, 9,145 yards and 67 touchdowns from 2013 to 2018.

By no means do the Steelers expect Johnson to make up for that by himself. But Johnson enters the NFL with a similar game and profile as Brown - and he was acquired as the headlining (if underwhelming) return in the trade of Brown.

Johnson embraces the on-field similarities with Brown in regards to playing style: ''route running, able to catch ball, get out of my breaks, able to run every route in the route tree.'' But Johnson politely downplays expectations he can approach the superstar status Brown reached in Pittsburgh.

''I'm just trying to come in and contribute and come in and do what I can do,'' Johnson said. ''Be myself and help out in any way that I can.''

It might forever be difficult for Johnson to simply ''be himself'' with the Steelers, if only because many might always compare him to Brown. A look at the roster shows that about the only way Johnson doesn't share a strong resemblance with Brown is uniform number. Johnson was wearing No. 18 at rookie minicamp; Brown's former No. 84 was given to undrafted tight end Milan Richard.

Over his final two college seasons, Brown had 2,096 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in being voted all-MAC twice. Johnson, over his final two college seasons: 2,039 receiving yards, 25 touchdowns, two-time all-MAC.

Each had great success as a punt and kick returner, too.

Johnson might not be Brown but he's already made an impression on his new teammates.

''He has a lot of talent,'' said cornerback Justin Layne, a player the Steelers took with another third-round pick. ''Fast, quick guy. He is going to help us a lot.''

Steelers fourth-round pick Benny Snell has gotten to know Johnson in recent months because they share the same agent and were roommates in Indianapolis at the combine in February.

''Diontae is amazing,'' said Snell, a running back from Kentucky. ''He's a cool guy, a cool dude - and he's got some hands.''

Johnson's hands weren't as much on display Friday as the Steelers likely hoped; he sat out portions of team drills, then deferred to coach Mike Tomlin, who was unavailable to media Friday, for specifics about any injury. But he allowed that he was ''fine.''

When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem to take a stand against police brutality and racial injustice in 2016, he was mostly alone. Politicians, team owners and fellow players criticized him, fans burned his jersey, and he was booed even at home. Global opinion has shifted so much that more people are now vilifying those who attack Kaepernick or misrepresent his stance.

In another display of Executive Time in action, Donald Trump today blared back out on the field of the NFL and race relations to condemn New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for apparently changing his mind on fellow players taking a knee in protest. After already slobbering all over the memory of George Floyd and […]

More than half the 32 NFL teams will not have coaching staffs at their facilities Friday even though the league has approved such returns where local governments allow them. Clubs with coaches in place at their training complexes were Super Bowl champion Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Houston, Denver, Dallas, Jacksonville and Atlanta. While entire staffs had not yet returned in many cities, such head coaches as the Chiefs' Andy Reid, the Steelers' Mike Tomlin, the Falcons' Dan Quinn, the Broncos' Vic Fangio and the Browns Kevin Stefanski were on hand.

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